Objective The overall objective of THOVLEN is to develop safe and efficient herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)-derived oncolytic vectors, designed to strictly target and eradicate human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), the most common liver cancer of adults. HSV-1 is certainly one of the most promising viral platforms for the development of improved oncolytic vectors, as anticipated by the unique biological properties of this virus and confirmed by the encouraging results coming from clinical trials in gliomas. However, the first generations of oncolytic HSV-1 vectors have also shown limitations regarding efficacy and safety. New generations of innovative HSV-1 vectors with improved potency and safety are required before the oncolytic strategy using HSV-1 becom es a standard therapeutic reality against cancer, and this is the goal of THOVLEN. One of the most important innovative contributions of our project concerns the overall approach towards the improvement of HSV-1-based oncolytic viruses. Instead of focusi ng on the development of vectors carrying deletions in particular virus genes, we will engineer competent, but replication-restricted, HSV-1 vectors, strictly targeted to HCC. These vectors will combine multiple HCC-targeting approaches, both at the leve l of entry and at the level of gene expression and replication, and will be able to multiply and spread only in HCC, while displaying no virulence in normal healthy tissues. Additionally, an important innovation is related to the ability of the HSV-1 vec tors to permit a sophisticated and flexible combined approach against HCC. That is, in addition to optimizing the oncolytic properties of HSV-1 vectors, THOVLEN will exploit the very large transgenic capability of HSV-1 to generate vectors that will sim ultaneously display multiple and multimodal anti-tumour activities acting either locally or systemically, including combined expression of anti-angiogenic, immune-modulatory, and oncolytic pr Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologyliver cancernatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologyvirologymedical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesDNA viruses Programme(s) FP6-LIFESCIHEALTH - Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health: Thematic Priority 1 under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006. Topic(s) LSH-2004-1.2.4-7 - Oncolytic virus vectors for cancer virotherapy (especially orientated towards involvement of SMEs) Call for proposal FP6-2004-LIFESCIHEALTH-5 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project Coordinator UNIVERSITÉ CLAUDE BERNARD LYON 1 Address 43 boulevard du 11 novembre 1918 Villeurbanne France See on map Links Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data Participants (7) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all FUNDACION PARA LA INVESTIGACION MEDICA APLICADA Spain EU contribution € 0,00 Address Avda pio xii, 55 Pamplona See on map Links Website Opens in new window Other funding No data GENOPOIETIC France EU contribution € 0,00 Address 1390 rue centrale Miribel See on map Other funding No data INSTITUT PASTEUR HELLENIQUE Greece EU contribution € 0,00 Address 127 vassilissis sofias ave Athens See on map Links Website Opens in new window Other funding No data LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address Geschwister-scholl-platz 1 Muenchen See on map Links Website Opens in new window Other funding No data LYON 1 INGENIERIE France EU contribution € 0,00 Address 43 bd du 11 novembre 1918 - l'atrium Villeurbanne See on map Links Website Opens in new window Other funding No data NUCLEALP France EU contribution € 0,00 Address Les rey Cusy See on map Other funding No data UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI FERRARA Italy EU contribution € 0,00 Address Via savonarola n° 9 Ferrara See on map Links Website Opens in new window Other funding No data
